When the firm's finance manager discovered the cash was missing, she told its managing director and they waited for Cai to turn up.

Deputy Public Prosecutor V. Jesudevan said: "However, the accused did not turn up and he remained uncontactable. He instead sent text messages to his other colleagues, lying that he had been a victim of snatch theft."

Oppo later learnt that Cai had taken an additional $35,000 from the safe between Sept 22 and 26 last year.

The police were notified and officers who went to his home on Sept 28 recovered $52,017.65 in cash from his bedroom.

In December 2011, while working as an accountant assistant at electronics company E-T-A Asia Pacific, Cai committed cheating by making multiple unauthorised travel bookings under the firm's account.

As a result, a travel agency was duped into issuing vouchers and sending the invoices to E-T-A.

The three cheating charges he pleaded guilty to involved $12,980.80 in all. Cai later claimed he had made the travel bookings for his friends.

In 2013, while working as a senior account executive at recycling company Resourceco Asia, Cai pocketed money meant for an intern.

The court heard that he was entrusted with a company cash cheque for $2,200 which was supposed to be given to an intern. Instead, he encashed the cheque, pocketed $700 and handed the intern the remainder. He also took $535.59 in cash from the firm's petty cash.